We recently had a joint launch for Nick Srnicek’s Silicon Empires, Maya Ganesh’s Auto-Correct and my Public Data Cultures book - with Noortje Marres and Joanna Zylinska as respondents.

It was such a buzz to feel the room packed with friends, colleagues, researchers, artists, activists, organisers and others interested in critical engagements with AI, data and digital culture.

Following brief book talks, Joanna and Noortje offered responses and asked questions. It felt special to be read so carefully in ways which helped to situate the books and bring them into conversation with each other and a wide range of related literatures.

Joanna spoke about how the books offered three complementary perspectives on computation as a hyperobject. She suggested that they each explored different kinds of epistemic uncertainties associated with computation (from geopolitical-economic to computational-governmental to everyday arrangements) - and that they each engaged with prospects of collapse, as well as offering different kinds of #hopecore moments.

Noortje spoke about how all three books engaged with infrastructure in different ways. In contrast to conceptions of infrastructure as robust, routine and standardising, she noted that all three books explored how infrastructures could be speculative, aspirational and out-of-control - unsettling environments and habits. She spoke about how the books thematised dynamics and dramas of generalised computation - and asked about the values and practices that the books offered in response.

After some questions and discussions with the room - we had time to gather and catch up. It was great to help grow connections between people with overlapping curiosities and commitments - including those working inside and beyond universities.

Thank you to all who joined and contributed to this event. I really appreciated Nick and Maya being up for a shared moment and Joanna and Noortje for their generous responses. JY Mak helped in many ways - from welcoming people to setting up to taking pictures. Mykola, Liliana, Thais, Sasha and many others helped with printing, carrying, guiding, coordinating and connecting people.

I’m grateful to all who made it to warm up together on a cold winter evening. 🌌🍵📚

All pictures by JY Mak / @joycentrism.